USS Iowa passing through the Carquinez straits
USS Iowa Under the Benicia Bridge
A submarine, USS Pampanito, is at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. The USS Hornet Museum is at the site of the old Alameda Naval Air Station.
Posted on 02/07/2005 6:25:24 PM PST by Citizen James
The 10-year fight to bring the battleship USS Iowa to San Francisco's waterfront is heating up once more, with an East Bay congressman offering some competition and The City set to instate a policy for historic ships at the port.
A handful of veterans and naval enthusiasts have long fought to bring the 48,000-pound ship, or one of its sister vessels, to the San Francisco Bay. In 1996, The City lost its bid, supported by then-Mayor Willie Brown and the port, to house the USS Missouri.
On Tuesday, the Port Commission is considering a policy that would set out requirements for the berthing of any historic ship or boat along the waterfront here -- including the need for the vessel to have some "connection or historical relationship" to the Bay Area, and that the project sponsor be financially prepared to set up and manage the ship.
Supporters, including the nonprofit Historic Ships at Memorial Square and the nationwide USS Iowa Veterans Association, say the Iowa meets those requirements. For years, they have pushed San Francisco, the Navy and Congress to clear the way for the Iowa's placement here, a city the ship has called home three times before.
"We all feel San Francisco is the right place," said veteran's association member Paul Gomez, who first docked the ship in 1951 at Hunter's Point Shipyard to ship out to Korea. "She's a magnificent ship, a beautiful ship ... an example of modern technology of the time it was built."
Gomez and Merylin Wong, president of the nonprofit, hope to one day see the Iowa berthed at Pier 35 -- though they are open to other options. The groups want the ship to become a museum and memorial, but also think it could serve as a command center in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
They will have to jump through several hoops before The City becomes home, however. The Iowa is currently part of the Navy's mothball fleet, and Congress must authorize it for donation before it is taken off reserve status. Then, the Navy would open the bidding for the ship and make a recommendation.
Additionally, the Port Commission would have to approve a location for the ship. Pier 35 has been mentioned as an option, but spokeswoman Renee Dunn said that pier will be used until at least 2009 for overflow from the cruise terminal. There "might" be an opportunity on the southern waterfront, she added.
In 1999, legislation authored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., established that Congress supported berthing the Iowa in San Francisco.
But on Feb. 1, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, introduced legislation that would strike the Iowa from the Naval registry and move it, on donation status, to the Port of Stockton.
Stockton Port Director Richard Aschieris said he anticipates "several applications from around the country" if the ship is taken off reserve. He mentioned Long Beach in Los Angeles County and New York City as other possible applicants.
24 ton ship?
I can't think of a more inappropriate place in the US.
Not San Francisco. I don't want the thing being painted pink and lavender.
California's population and Congressmen are notoriously anti-military. California should not get any economic benefits from the US Military.
The city leaders can then use the Iowa's guns and cruise missles to enforce their proposed handgun ban.
Hey, a SF paper cannot be bothered with facts, technical details, etc. All that matters is if there are any "oppressed groups" that the mayor can pimp.
You're right, I don't think we deserve such a treasure...
What the heck are we going to do with it ? Where are they going to put it ?
They already have the "Hornet" at Alameda, and that gets few enough visitors. There's very little in the way of dock space in the Bay Area thats really accessible.
If they put the "Iowa" in San Francisco proper, somewhere near Fishermans wharf I could see it. But its very unlikely the city would give it the space.
Must be a smallish model. Do they have a model ships museum in SF?
USS Iowa passing through the Carquinez straits
USS Iowa Under the Benicia Bridge
A submarine, USS Pampanito, is at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. The USS Hornet Museum is at the site of the old Alameda Naval Air Station.
Or the city could let Greenpeace use it as the new Rainbow Warrior...
Hey, that works out it lefty logic doesn't it.
She belongs in Des Moines.
I think it belongs in Iowa.
I may an old Cannon-Cocker, but even I know that the Iowa Class, which, despite its deceptive name, USS Iowa, is a member of that class, was rated at 48,000 tons.
I would rather dock the Iowa in the Houston ship channel by the battleship Texas...then we could have a battle ship row..cool
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